Improvement in abdominal corsets



HARRIET G. EMERY.

. Abdominal Corset. N0. I6I,OI8 I V Patented March 23,l875' THE GRAPHIC C0.PNOTO.-LlTH-39 8:.41 PARK PUGBN-K UNITED STATES IMPROVEMENT IN ABDOMINAL CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,018, dated March 23, 1875; application filed October 27, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIET G. EMERY, of the city of Boston, county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Corsets; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

The main object of this invention is to furnish as part of a corset an abdominal support, so made as to provide for the differences in form of different persons, as well as for the varying differences of form of the same person, more especially females; and it consists in a peculiar construction of its parts for these purposes, and also in a novel construction of the breast parts of a corset, adapted for mothers with nursing children.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a corset embodying my improvements, with a portion cut away and a portion turned back the better to display the parts beneath. Fig. 2 is a back view as if upon the person, the front portion not being displayed, and a part being broken away in order to show the back lacing. band or straps. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a part of the side at the left of the person, being the right-hand side of Fig. 1, showing the edge of the corset, with part of the casing or pocket which receives the front expansible part broken away; Fig. 4, a perspective, in section, across the right breast.

Arepresents that portion of the corset above the waist, and B the portion below it, and which part I will first describe. The front part of B is divided into three parts, viz., a middle piece, 0, which is a continuation of the upper portion A, and the two side pieces 01 d, which are also continuations or extensions of this portion A. The piece 0 is made full, and of a breadth at its widest part reaching about to the outermost closed edges of the pieces at d. These pieces d d are each made into the form of a sort of pocket, closed at the outer, but open at the inner, side to. afford a receptacle to receive the surplus or excess of material of the piece 0, and which surplus is thus free to be let out from the pocket, as may be required, in order to adapt it to the form of the abdomen, as circumstances may demand, the parts 0, d, and d being connected at the waist, from which the enlargement or swell begins, and at their extreme lowest points, but left disconnected between those points of connection, in order to allow of adjustment for the varying needs of expansibility and contraction. The piece 0 is made full enough to meet any exigency, and the effect'of the fullest expansion or spread of the parts is such as to produce approximately a hemispherical form. Lacings e, or other equivalent means, from the edges of d d and across the part c, serve to secure the parts to their adjusted position. To hold these parts at the back of the person, each piece 61 d is provided with a short strap, f, the two straps being provided with adjustable means for tightening or loosening, such as the lacing g, or any other equivalent means. This strap f, if made simply of textile fabric, would lack firmness enough to remain flat, and would tend, when in use, to gather up and to pucker, and be very uncomfortable. I therefore cord it vertically by a series of cords inserted and stitched closely to each other, as shown at h, the cords being very tightly twisted to give them rigidity. This, while afford ing sufficient flexibility, secures the proper firmness. From each side of the back portion I of the corset, about at the waist, extends in a direction forward and downward a strap, 70, to which is connected an adjustable piece, 1, preferably elastic, the whole forming an abdominal band support, which passes, as shown, beneath the lowest part of the abdomen, thus supporting and sustaining it under all conditions. This band is made adjustable that it may be adapted to the condition of the abdomen and the comfort of the wearer, and it may pass under a guide loop or loops, m. As the band is sustained by the back part of the corset, and the corset is sustained not from the hips, but from the shoulders by means of its shoulder-straps n 0, which I prefer to make as shown, and for which reissued Letters Patent No. 4,891 have been already granted to myself and another, no downward strain or pressure comes upon the abdomen.

From the above description it will be seen that the band k I will uphold and support the abdomen under all conditions, and however it may become enlarged or diminished in size or changed in form; that in thus supporting it there is no counter downward pressure upon the abdomen from the other parts of the corset, or from the weight of the clothing worn, because the shoulders bear all this weight, and the hips, stomach, and abdomen are entirely relieved of it. It will be further seen that this band and its means of support are distinct from the strap f, which fastens on the back of the person, and holds in place the distensible front parts d, d, and c, which inclose the abdomen.

The strap or band 70 l I apply to the back portion of ordinary corsets, as it is of great value whether the corset extends down over the abdomen or not.

The construction admits of every adjustment that can be needed, giving proper support whether the abdomen be flat or full, whether the person be affected with dropsy, corpulency, hernia, &c., and also during any of the stages of pregnancy.

It may be used to advantage by males, as well as females, and where the abdomen has but a moderate rotundity the loop m assists in keeping the abdominal band in a proper lower position. When the rotundity or enlargement is greater, the band will hold its proper place independently of the loops.

The variable capacity of the expansible and contractible part c, and the adjustability of the band k I, it will be seen are such that their adaptability each to the other is within perfect control of the wearer.

When the form of the person is not full, I may, if desired, attach straps p from the stockings to the band k l, at such place as to tend to pull or hold the band down; or the straps may be attached to the bifurcated straps q. These straps p are similar to those shown in the above-named reissue No. 4,891.

For a mothers nursing-corset, I make the part from 1 to 2 open down to the lower portion of the breast, this opening being in line with the center of each breast, one side or wing, 3, of this opening being cut with a curved swell, 4, to conform in part to the swell of the breast, and the other side lap or wing 5.havin g, in addition to a curved swell like 4, an additional lapping-piece, 6, of somewhat crescent or plano-convex shape, stitched thereto, thus forming a sort of pouch, which, when distended, is about of the form of a segment of a hollow sphere, so that it may fit over and receive the breast, and yet be overlapped by the wing 3. This prevents its gaping open of 'itself, although the parts are free to be pulled apart when necessary.

These two wings, 3 and 5, are supported at their top with a button-hole and button, 7, or other means of construction, to facilitate the complete opening of the parts when in the act of nursing, but in order to keep the corset itself in proper position, and its hold across from shoulder to shoulder and upon each shoulder undisturbed upon thus disconnecting and separating the parts 3 5, I affix over each breast a strap, 8, one end of which is permanently attached, and the other by means of a button or other device removably connected, to the corset.

This strap thus performs not only the function of preserving the integrity of the upper line of the corset, and keeping it to place, as well while nursing as when not, but it also gives an attractive ornament and finish to the garment, while at the same time concealing the fastening device 7, and not suggesting any idea that the corset is a nursing one.

When the abdominal corset is worn by one who is not a mother, it may be made without this open breast, which, however, is adapted for ordinary dress-corsets, so that ladies need not change a dress to nurse a child, and I make dress-corsets with this construction of opening breast, but without the abdominal construction.

I claim r 1. In combination with a corset, the band or strap 70 l, connected directly with the back, and arranged to pass beneath and support the abdomen, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with'the extension parts 61 d, the part 0 applied to and partly underlying the same, and admitting of expanding and holding the parts in the adjusted position, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the extension parts at d, constructed substantially as described, the lacing-straps f formed of closely-corded textile fabric, and stitched and made as described.

4. A corset formed with an open slit, 1 2, over the central line of the breast, and provided with a lapping-piece to lie under the opening, and a sustaining-strap, 8, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

HARRIET G. EMERY. Witnesses:

J. J. HALSTED, GEO. '1. SMALLWOOD. 

